12 NYC taxi drivers busted in credit card scam

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NEW YORK — Authorities say 12 New York City taxi drivers have been arrested on grand larceny charges in a credit card scam that resulted in the theft of nearly $40,000.

The city's Department of Investigation said Thursday the alleged fraud took place between January and July 2015.

Investigators became aware of the scam when the vendors responsible for electronic payments in taxis noticed several high dollar trips with short duration and distances. Most of the trips lasted less than a minute with charges ranging from $100 to $499 per trip.

The brother of one of the defendants was also arrested for posing as his Taxi and Limousine Commission licensed sibling.

Each of the defendants' TLC licenses has been suspended. If convicted, they'll be revoked.

According to the arrest charges, the following individuals were charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree; Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree; and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree.

• Janzeb Altaf, 22, of Queens, N.Y., is charged with stealing $3,022 over 19 fraudulent transactions between February 2015 and April 2015. Altaf processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .82 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $250 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Jean Massango, 43, of Tarrytown, N.Y., is charged with stealing $6,148 over 14 fraudulent transactions between January 2015 and March 2015. Massango processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .26 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $491 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Lidial Seck, 51, of New York, N.Y., is charged with stealing $7,916 over 25 fraudulent transactions between February 2015 and April 2015. Seck processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .34 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $499 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

According to the arrest charges, the following individuals were charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, both class E felonies. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison:

• Moulevais Balthazard, Jr., 28, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is charged with stealing $1,075 over seven fraudulent transactions between February 2015 and April 2015. Balthazard processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .16 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $221 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Aboubacar Jalloh, 51, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is charged with stealing $1,656 over four fraudulent transactions between January 2015 and March 2015. Jalloh processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .04 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $497 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Marie Louissaint, 42, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is charged with stealing $1,186 over six fraudulent transactions during the month of May 2015. LOUISSAINT processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .07 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $219 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Maher Mansour, 56, of Queens, N.Y., is charged with stealing $2,825 over 15 fraudulent transactions between March 2015 and May 2015. Mansour processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .07 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $255 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Alhadi Ragab-Hilal, 51, of New York, N.Y., is charged with stealing $2,502 over ten fraudulent transactions between May 2015 and June 2015. Ragab-Hilal processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .05 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $390 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Mouhamodou Seck, 59, of the Bronx, N.Y., is charged with stealing $1,111 over four fraudulent transaction during the month of April 2015. Seck processed credit card transactions with trip distances of zero miles for fraudulent charges of up to $400 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Manjinder Singh, 25, of Queens, N.Y., is charged with stealing $1,100 over three fraudulent transaction in March 2015. Singh processed credit card transactions with trip distances of zero miles for fraudulent charges of up to $400 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs.

• Yahaya Diaby, 35, of New York, N.Y., is charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, class D felonies, in connection with the theft of $3,150 over 15 fraudulent transactions between February 2015 and April 2015. Diaby processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .16 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $350 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs. Upon conviction, a class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

• Ibrahim Fofana, 40, of the Bronx, N.Y., is charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, in connection with the theft of $3,145 over 17 fraudulent transactions between April 2015 and July 2015. FOFANA processed credit card transactions with trip distances ranging from zero to .16 miles for fraudulent charges of up to $300 per trip, when the card holders were not present in New York City or not taking taxicabs. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison.

• Mamefall Seck, 58, of the Bronx, who was charged with Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, and related charges. Upon conviction, a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year’s incarceration. According to DOI’s investigation, SECK was found late Wednesday, December 14, 2016, driving a cab assigned to his brother, Mouhamodou Seck.